Safety tips from Uber for the festive season
Safety is important to Uber—whether a person is in the backseat or behind the wheel. As the festive season approaches, the demand for Uber increases as many people are planning on hopping to and from parties, shopping malls and other festivities. Uber values the safety of riders and driver-partners before, during and after every trip and this is why Uber continually improves their safety features, the world over.
Alon Lits, General Manager for Uber sub-Saharan Africa explains, “Safety is a two-way street, especially when two people are sharing a ride. And, while no means of transportation is 100% free of accidents and incidents, we’re always looking for ways to improve safety.
Last month, we kick-started a series of driver safety sessions at our Greenlight Hubs across our major African cities. We partnered with Police representatives and Safety experts in order to equip driver-partners with tailormade safety tips including being alert on the roads, ensuring they follow the laws of the road and providing tips to help prevent them being a victim of crime.”
Uber has also launched a social media and direct marketing campaign to new and existing riders in order to educate them on the safety features that Uber provides.
Below is a list of safety tips for riders and driver-partners, which Uber urges everyone to always follow:
Know Your Ride
Always take the time to review the safety features available to you in the app. Check that license plate, vehicle colour, driver photo, and driver name all match what’s listed in the app. Rides can only be requested through the Uber app. It’s important to avoid spending unnecessary time outside with your phone in your hand. Rather wait indoors until you are notified through the app that your driver has arrived.
Be a backseat rider
If you’re riding alone, sit in the backseat. This ensures you can safely exit on either side of the vehicle to avoid moving traffic, and it gives you and your driver some personal space.
In-app Help
This tool is designed to help you get a prompt response to your queries in the shortest time possible. Navigate to the “Help’’ section on the app, which helps riders and driver-partners alike to communicate any concerns they may have during a trip, so that they can get a response as soon as possible.
Follow Your Intuition
When travelling with a driver-partner, you should always be aware of your surroundings, and trust your instincts and judgement, if you feel that something isn’t right. You should be cautious when sharing any personal information and should always confirm that the driver-partner is in fact the one you saw on the app. If ever you feel that you’re in an emergency situation, you are advised to alert the local emergency services immediately.
Uber constantly develops new technologies to ensure safety before, during, and after every ride which was not possible before. Uber is committed to continuously helping to educate riders and driver-partners on how to use the technology by providing tips to improve their safety on every ride.
Via: Uber South Africa